Lots of mums find they only manage a few drops when they first start expressing, and that can make you feel pretty low. But most mums find it gets much easier with practise - you just need to find your rhythm. As a quick guide, think about is when you’re expressing (after the ﬁrst feed of the day is best) and where you’re expressing (are you comfortable, maybe with your baby or a photo of them closeby).

There are some practical considerations too - do you need a warm cloth to help let down, are you hydrated enough? For more advice from mums who have been there and done it, check out our Parent Room.

If you find your breast pump is not creating any suction (test it against your hand to double check), there are a couple of things you can check.

First there is the white valve that hangs down into the bottle. Check that the split across the bottom of this is open, and if not give it a gentle massage between your finger and thumb to open it up. If that’s not the issue then check the air tube for damage and all the plastic parts that make up the breast pump. You can also change the settings depending on what feels comfortable by pressing through the buttons on the electric motor.

Should the above steps not improve your suction, or if a spare part is required, please contact a member of our Careline team through our Contact Us page.